ColorStore Projects

With ColorStore, the possibilities are limitless as to the projects you can make. ColorStore makes it easy to create anything from greeting cards, stationery and t-shirt designs to food labels, picture frames and photo album pages. And you don't need to be an artist or computer expert to create fantastic personalized projects--ColorStore is packed with pre-made graphics and all the tools you need! Visit DogByte Development's website http://www.dogbyte.com for more tips and information on other great products.

Contents:

Create a Personalized T-Shirt

Creating your own custom t-shirts or other cotton items is a snap with ColorStore and Canon t-shirt transfer paper. Follow these steps, but feel free to improvise during the design stage--that's half the fun!
  1. From the ColorStore opening screen, select Start a New Project.
  2. On the Project Tab, single click on the t-shirt button. Select either Portrait or Landscape orientation for your design by clicking on the appropriate button.
  3. On the Design Tab, scroll through all of the available designs. Small previews are available at the top of the tab, with the corresponding category listings at the bottom. Once you find a design you would like to use, single click on it and it will appear in the workspace on the right.
  4. Add any extra graphics from the Graphics Tab by single clicking on the preview at the top (or clicking and dragging the graphic.) If you have a scanner or digital camera and want to put a photo on your design, press the Scanner or Camera button at the top of the Graphics Tab. Highlight the device you want to use then press OK. ColorStore will access the software for either your scanner or digital camera. When the image is to your liking, close your scanner or camera software and the image will be placed in your t-shirt design. You can resize the image, move it, and even crop it. See the help file for more information.
  5. Add a special message to your t-shirt design using the tools on the Text Tab. Add a text box, then type your message. Go to the Text Effects Tab and enable text effects while the text box is selected for added impact.
  6. Once your design is to your liking, select Print from the File menu or tool bar. On the Print Dialog, select Options, then set your printer settings to print on t-shirt transfer paper. Some printers have a reverse printing selection, while in others you need to change media type from plain paper to t-shirt transfer paper. Once your settings are adjusted, press OK to print.
  7. Take your printed t-shirt design and a light colored t-shirt or other cotton item (backpack, shorts, sheets, etc.), and line up the design face down on the item. The back of the transfer paper should be facing you. Warm your household iron, following the instructions that came with the t-shirt transfer paper. Apply heat to the back of the transfer paper, and peel back the transfer paper when the design has transferred to the cotton.

Wear your creation with pride, or surprise a friend or relative with a special gift.

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Create Recipe Cards That Sizzle

Colorful recipe cards will brighten up your kitchen. They also make great gifts and can be used as decorative pieces on giftwrap.
  1. On the Project Tab in ColorStore, select Certificate.
  2. Choose the notecard 4"x6" stock from Avery® listed in the Select dialog.
  3. On the Design Tab, single click on the blank design at the top of the list.
  4. Skip to the Text Tab, and add a large text box. Type in the ingredients and instructions for creating your favorite recipe. Format the text to your liking-- use colored text, italicize ingredients and bold special instructions.
  5. Go back to the Graphics Tab and add graphics that fit your recipe. Try the cow from the cow category for beef dishes, the fish from the fishing category for fish dishes, graphics from the Christmas category for holiday cookies, or any items from the food label category. Be creative.
  6. Print your recipe on Avery notecard stock or use cardstock and cut the recipe afterwards.

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Create 3-D Paper Picture Frames

Make special picture frames using household items and ColorStore.
  1. Select frame on the Project Tab. Select the frame size you want to create by the size of the picture you want to frame.
  2. On the Design Tab, choose a design or select the blank design at the top of the screen.
  3. On the Graphics Tab, choose a shape for the center of the frame (if the blank design was selected). This is where the photo will go. If you want to use a digital photo, select Import now. If you want to use an image from your scanner or digital camera, select the Scanner or Camera button now.
  4. Print out the frame on cardstock. We recommend using acid-free paper.
  5. Using an artist's knife or scissors, carefully cutout the shape in the center of the frame. If you have imported a digital image, skip this step.
  6. Assemble the frame according to the printed instructions and insert the picture. You now have a completed frame ready to mail or display, or you can continue on to decorate if desired.
  7. Using small household items, decorate the frame. The sample shown is decorated with multi-colored rotini. You can also use buttons, bottle caps, paper clips, cake decorations, puzzle pieces, anything! For a totally unique look, paint the items with a metallic or glittery color. Let the items dry before gluing to the frame. Or before you insert the photo, affix the pasta and spray paint the entire frame. Let dry before inserting the photo, then complete assembly. Hot Tip! Make sure that whatever item you affix to the bottom portion of the frame does not extend past the edge. If anything hangs over, the frame will not stand properly.
  8. For heavier items such as pasta, buttons or bottle caps, the use of a hot glue gun or glue pot is suggested. Children should use common white glue. Just remember that if the items are too heavy, the frames will have difficulty standing unsupported.
  9. Decide on a pattern for the decorations. We used a sunburst striped theme for the pasta, to coordinate with the person's striped cap. Carefully affix the items in the desired pattern.
  10. Let frame dry completely before attempting to use the stand-alone easel on the back.
  11. If the frame can not stand on its own, try using a popsicle stick to provide support to the back.

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Dress up Your Photo Album Pages

Dress up existing photo albums or create ones from scratch using ColorStore and a little imagination.

 

  1. Select Photo Album Page on the Project Tab. Choose portrait or landscape.
  2. After deciding on a theme for your album page, select a design on the Design Tab.
  3. Decorate the page with text and stamp graphics, if desired. If you are importing digital images, do so now.
  4. Select Print. We recommend using acid-free paper to protect your photographs.

At this point, you could take your photographs and affix them to your album page. Use photo corners, acid free glue or adhesive strips for best results. To further decorate your page, here are some suggestions.

  1. Select New to clear the workspace. Go to the Graphics tab and select some add-on graphics that go with the theme of your photographs.
  2. When you click on a particular graphic in the workspace, you can resize it.
  3. Once you are satisfied with the sizes, print out on scratch paper.
  4. Use an artist's knife or scissors to cut out the shapes. This is now a template.
  5. Place the desired template shape and size over the appropriate photograph. Then use an artist's knife or scissors to cut directly from the template. Or use an acid-free writing instrument (we recommend a grease pencil), carefully trace the shape onto the photograph. Then cut the photograph with scissors or an artist's knife.
  6. Affix the photograph on colored paper using an Acid-Free adhesive. We recommend mounting the photo on Acid-Free paper.
  7. Carefully cut around the photo, leaving a small margin of colored paper as a border.
  8. Affix the bordered photographs to the photo album page using Acid-Free adhesive. Continue to decorate with hand lettering, rubber stamps, or glitter, or place immediately in an Acid-Free plastic protector for your scrapbook and enjoy!

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